The West just got wilder.

As response to the blockbuster deal that sent Spanish bigman Pau Gasol to the Lakers, Phoenix Suns strengthened their line-up by acquiring Shaquille O’Neal from the Miami Heat in exchange for Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks. This triggered a shift of power in the already tight and competitive conference and raised further its dominance over the East side.

The 4-time NBA Champion strengthens the frontline defense of the Suns, it may become harder for them to use their usual run-and-gun plays but they now have someone who could contend with Gasol and Andrew Bynum of the Lakers and most importantly, Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs, the team’s major obstacle in the postseason.

On the other end of the bargain, Pat Riley and the struggling Heat gets the services of the versatile Shawn Marion and the hustle of Marcus Banks. At the bottom of the standings, the trade might be too late for them to reach the playoffs this year but this is a major step on the management’s rebuilding process of the team’s core and getting the perfect role players around their promising superstar, Dwyane Wade.

Slowed down with a series of injuries, Shaq may be is in the twilight of his career but still, it’s exciting to see how the Diesel will play with the explosive Amare Stoudemire, the veteran Grant Hill, the defense specialist Raja Bell, the speedy sixth-man Leandro Barbosa, and the leadership of Steve Nash at the point.

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